About Us

Who are Leith Nautical?

Leith Nautical Sailing Academy was created in 2013 to bring RYA shore based theory classes back to Edinburgh.

Our instructors are either specialists in sailing yachts or power boats, and we pride ourselves in being very flexible in the courses we offer.

We deliver all our courses ourselves: if you phone or email it will be one of us who replies. Evenings and weekends are the best times to call us on 07513846229.

We provide excellent tutor support in small groups, delivered by instructors who have a passion for sailing. Our maximum group size is ten which promises real encouragement to each learner in a friendly and relaxed environment.

We are now delighted to also offer our students the chance to enjoy RYA practical courses on the Clyde with Britsail. It is more than likely that your Leith Nautical tutor will be your instructor on the boat.

Rosy Ogden

Rosy is a commercially endorsed RYA offshore yachtmaster as well as the RYA yachtmaster instructor.

She has raced on both the east and west coast of Scotland competing in Scottish Series, West Highland week and the Edinburgh to Kirkwall race. She has also explored many of the Scottish islands including the Inner and Outer Hebrides.

Her bigger passages have included yacht deliveries from the Canaries to the South of Morocco, the South of England to Italy and from Ireland to Portugal. Rosy is running female only weekends during the summer months with Britsail. The only RYA centre in Scotland providing these not to be missed weekends.

Paul Murray

Paul is a commercially endorsed Yachmaster Offshore, and an RYA Instructor. These days as well as instructing he can be found sailing from Oban where his Beneteau is based.

A former commodore of the Forth Corinthian Yacht Club, Paul is passionate about sailing. With more than 20 years sailing behind him amongst the highlights are extensive cruising of the West Coast of Scotland, racing on the East Coast, exploring the Swedish Archipelagos, crossing the North Sea to Norway, and of course crossing Biscay to Portugal

Brian Murdoch

Brian Murdoch (aka Budgie) is one of Scotland’s most experienced trainer, instructor and examiners. The depth of Budgie’s knowledge is reflected in his role as an RYA Assessor for Shorebased and VHF Radio instructors in Scotland. Knowledge Brian acquired during 30 years working with the MOD police in Faslane, the last 19 of which he spent as the Force Marine Police Training Officer. Brian will be offering our specialist courses including RYA the Sea survival.

Harry O’Donnell

Harry is a commercially endorsed RYA Ocean Yachtmaster as well as an RYA shore based theory instructor and VHF assessor.

He has been actively sailing since the late 90’s and is heavily involved in yacht racing at Port Edgar since 2003. He has competed in major yachting regattas on both the east and West coast of Scotland and also taken part in racing events in Norway and Majorca.

Harry also enjoys cruising with experience of sailing around the Scottish Western and Northern Isles and further afield exploring the Islands around Turkey, Greece, and Croatia. His longer passages include Iceland to Oban and North Sea crossings to Norway and Denmark.

Ian Malcolm

Ian is our First Aid Instructor. He is also an RYA Senior Instructor and Powerboat Instructor as well as an active member of St Mary’s Loch Sailing Club. Ian enjoys racing a Laser and an Enterprise and has cruised yachts on both sides of the Channel, Southern Ireland and the West coast of Scotland as well as on the Firth of Forth.

Where you’ll find us

Leith Nautical Sailing Academy holds its courses in the clubhouse of Trinity Bowling Club in the north of the city.

This is a great location: ten minutes from the centre of the city yet very quiet. There is no shortage of free parking right next to the Bowling Club and the terminus of the 23 bus is also right beside it. If you are travelling by bike then the North Edinburgh Cycle Route passes through Trinity and you would leave it at the Clark Road Access. There is plenty of secure bike storage. (For those coming by boat we are about a five minute walk from the pontoon at Granton!)

The clubhouse is warm and comfortable with views over the beautifully kept green and gardens.

The Bowling Club is in the North East corner of Lomond Park with the entrance on Lomond Road. The 23 bus stops on Lennox Row. The Bowling Club’s postcode is EH5 3JS

Where else?

We can deliver courses elsewhere.

We can both bring most of our courses to a place of your choosing and at a time which is convenient for you.

If you have members of your yacht club who want to do the VHF(SRC) course, if you have a racing crew you want qualified as First Aiders, if there is a group wishing to do the Day Skipper theory course, then we can come to you.

We can provide one day courses, 5 day courses and weekend courses at a venue to suit you.

If you would like to discuss any “outreach” courses please phone or text Rosy on 07513846229 or email: leithnautical@gmail.com

What

You need to bring some simple equipment with you.

Pen, pencil, (a 2B is best), pencil sharpener, rubber and a note pad.

You will also need a Portland Plotter and a pair of dividers for the Essential Navigation course, the Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster courses.

We can supply these on the first day of your course.

We will provide tea, coffee and biscuits though the day.

You should bring your own packed lunch.

Extras

There are lots of excellent books and other publications that you may find useful in developing your knowledge and understanding of navigation and other things nautical. We have copies of a wide range of these books that you can look at to help you decide which if any you want to buy.

We do recommend that students purchase the “RYA Sail Cruising and Yachtmaster Scheme – Syllabus and Logbook”(£5.99) This small book explains the structure and content of the RYA courses as well as giving you a place to record all your “boaty” achievements.

We also recommend purchase of “Admiralty Chart 5011, Symbols and Abbreviations” This booklet is the “key” to Admiralty charts and an essential reference work for any skipper or navigator(£20)

We can supply these books at the start of your course or they are available from the RYA online store below